Diving apparatus.



PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

J. VON MINISZEWSKI.

DIVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION rum) MAR. 19, 1904.

2 SHEETS- ERRET 1.

N0 MODEL.

lA/VEA/ TOR W/TNESSES 1170 6 eflfi Won 0727321526 ,4 rroewsrs PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

J. VON MINISZEWSKI.

DIVING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIOH mm MAR. 19, 1904.

2 SHEETS-BHBIIT-B.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH VON MINISZEWVSKI, OF COLOGNE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GRAF VLADIMIR SKORZEWSKI, OF SOHLOSS CZERNIEJEWVO, NEAR SOHIVARZEN AU, GERMANY.

DIVING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,643, dated August 2, 1904. Application filed March 19, 1904. Serial No. 199,031. (No model.)

To 07/ 'u'lm'nt it TIMI/Z] concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH VON MINIS- ZEWSKI, a citizen of the Empire of Germany, residing at Cologne, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Diving Apparatus, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to a ball-like diving apparatus, which, owing to its shape and construction, is enabled to dive down to a comparativel y considerable depth, to move thereabout in all directions, and to rise or to sink at pleasure.

I will proceed to describe this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a longitudinal section through a diving apparatus on the line A B in Fig. 2, seen in the direction from left to right, this apparatus being adapted to move forward and backward in the plane of the paper/. (2., to the left or to the right, respectively. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the same on the line C D in Fig. 1, seen in the direction from right to left, the left propelling-blade being omitted; and Fig. 3 is a side view, on a reduced scale, of the same.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The diving apparatus essentially consists of a ball-like iron or steel casing made in halves 1 and 2, which are rigidly connected by means of bolts 31 and nuts. \Vithin this casing a strong tubular vessel 3 is placed in the horizontal longitudinal axis and arranged for storing up compressed air or gas of a pressure amounting to several hundreds of atmospheres. This vessel 3 is surrounded by a concentric tube serving a similar purpose as the air-bladder of the fish. The annular space 35 between the two tubes 3 and 4 can be put into communication with the surrounding seawater by means of a tube 6 and a stop-valve 5 of any known and approved construction, when water will flow in and more or less fill the space 35. The air or gas can be discharged from the annular space 35 to without through two elbows 32 and 33 and a stop-valve 9 of any known and approved construction. The compressed air or gas is introduced into the vessel 3 in any convenient manner, be it through a tube 3 k, and can be discharged into the annular space 35 by means of a reducing: valve 8 of any known kind, so that the air or gas expands down to a pressure about equal to that of the surrounding sea-water and forces out a corresponding quantity of water from the space 35. The space 35 is made of such a size that when it is filled with water the total weight of the whole diving apparatus will exceed that of the water displaced, which means that the apparatus is obliged to sink downward. On the other hand, if the space 35 is emptied of the water and filled with air or gas the total weight of the apparatus will fall behind that of the water displaced, so that the apparatus will rise upward. By regulating the reducing-valve 8 the quantity of the water in the space can be so adjusted that the total weight of the diving apparatus will be exactly like that of the water displaced by it. Then the apparatus will neither sink nor rise, but simply float. By admitting water into the space 35 and discharging air or gas through the stop-valve 9 to without the apparatus can be caused to move downward, while by admitting compressed air or gas into the space 35 to drive out a corresponding quantity of water the apparatus can be caused to move upward.

A coil 7 is preferably disposed within the space 35 and connected with the stop-valve 5, so that the water from without is obliged to first pass through the spiral turns of this coil before it enters the space 35. This coil 7 is to prevent the air or gas from inadvertently escaping into the sea-water.

Two parallel circular rails 10 10 are secured on the inside of the casing at right angles to the axis of the two tubes 3 and a, and on these railsa carriage 11 is arranged to run. A double-purchase crab 12 is disposed on this carriage and provided with two hand-cranks 13 for rotating the one axle 14 in either direction, when the carriage will thereby be moved in the respective direction. As the complete diving apparatus is carefully balanced, it follows that by moving the carriage 11 in either direction the line of direction of gravity will at the same time be shifted, so that the ball-like casing will revolve. It is for this reason that this casing is made as smooth as possible on the outside to reduce itsfriction in the sea-water and to facilitate its motion.

The one half, 2, of the casing is shown as .cast in one piece with a small cylinder 26, in which a piston 27 is mounted to reciprocate. The cylinder 26 is normally closed with a plate 25 of a suitable materiaL-such as, for instance,

reducing-valve 30. The plunger 29 tapers at its end and is adapted to establish a communication between the vessel 3 and the space 35 I through a lateral channel 36 on being Withdrawn.

The casing is of course provided with a manhole, which can be closed by means of a tapering cover 23, a plate 37, and a bolt 24 and nut.

The diving apparatus is chiefly intended for examining the bottom of the sea or bodies thereon or above the same. For this reason .it is-preferably provided with two strong glass disks 21 and 22 in the casing. From a suitable source of light rays of light can be sent through the one glass disk to Without by means of suitable reflectors, While the lighted bodies can be examined and studied through the other glass disk.

In the vertical central cross-plane of the ball-like casing at right angles to the axis of the two tubes 3 and 4 two propelling-blades 15 (of which only one is shown at Fig. 2) are disposed on two opposite sides of the casing and connected with the latter by means of links 16 16, hinged on the one hand to the blades and on the other hand to the casing. These blades 15 are normally pressed by springs 17 17 into the vertical positions shown at Fig. 3, so that the blades neither offer any resistance to the Water when the diving apparatus rises or sinks nor cause the latter to deviate from the perpendicular line. The moment, however, the apparatus commences to slowly rotate the resistance of the water will overcome the pressures of the springs 17 17 and turn the blades 15 into slanting positions.

(Indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.) Then the whole apparatus will be similar to a screw-propeller and act much the same as the latter. This means that when the apparatus rotates in the one sense it will proceed in one horizontal direction say to the left in Fig. 1and when it rotates in the other sense it will proceed in the opposite horizontal directionsay to the right in Fig. 1. In this figure the normal vertical positions of thelolades 15 are indicated by dotted lines.

A circularly-bent rail 18 is disposed within the casing and may extend either through the whole periphery or a part only of the same, as shown. A movable weight 19 is mounted to run on this rail 18 and may be arranged to be moved in either direction by hand or mechanically. Suitable springs 20 are secured on the rail 18 and arranged for catching the weight 19.

The diving apparatus is operated in the fol lowing manner: The vessel 3 is filled in any known manner with compressed air or gas. Normally the space 35 is empty and the stopvalve 5 closed.- When the men have entered the apparatus through the manhole, the latter is closed with the cover 23. At this moment the apparatus still floats in or near the sealevel. Now the stop-valves 5 and 9 are opened to admit so much sea-water from without through the channel 6 and the coil 7 into the annular space 35 and to discharge air or gas from the space 35 to without through the valve 9 as will cause the apparatus to sink down at the desired rate. At this moment the one stop-valve, 9, is again closed. When a certain depth or a certain point near the bottom'of the sea has been reached, the reducing-valve 8 is opened to admit a certain quantity of compressed air or gas into the space 35, Where it expands and forces out a corresponding quantity of water from the space 35, so that the downward motion of the apparatus is checked. Then the inspection, observation, or exploration by means of the two glass disks 21 and 22 can take place, as the case may be. When it is desired to proceed in a horizontal direction in the axis of the vessel 3 and tube 4, the handles 13 13 are actuated to move the carriage 11 in the respective sense, and thereby to shift the line of direction of gravity, so that the apparatus will slowly revolve. Thereby thepropellingblades 15 will be inclined and so engage in the sea-water as to move the apparatus in the desired horizontal direction. The crab is continually' driven and the apparatus propelled until it has arrived at the desired position, when the crab is again checked to stop the apparatus. For proceeding in the opposite horizontal direction, of course the crab requires to be driven in the reversed sense. If the casing occupies the position shown and it should be desired to turn the apparatus in the horizontal plan'e,the weight 19 is thrown by hand or mechanically in one direction against the respective spring, whereby the casing is given a shock, so that the apparatus is turned through a certain horizontal angle. By repeating several times this shock the apparatus can be turned through the desired angle, after which it may proceed in either horizontal direction. In case the rail 18 is not horizontal, as shown, but inclined, and if the weight 19 is thrown in either sense against the respective spring 20, the apparatus will revolve around an axis at right angles to the plane of the rail 18. If it is desired to again rise, it is only necessary to open the reducingvalve 8 for admitting compressed air or gas into the annular space 35 and forcing out a corresponding quantity of water. If at the same time the crab 12 is actuated for moving the carriage 11 in either direction of course the diving apparatus will rise in an inclined direction. By suitably regulating the quantity of water in the space 35 and by driving the crab 12 in either sense the apparatus can be caused to move in all directions.

As it is ditficult to correctly measure the depth to which the apparatus has dived and to protect the latter from destruction by an excessive pressure of the sea-water, the already-described safety device is employed. Should the apparatus sink below the permissible depth, the head of the sea-water will break the plate and act upon the piston 27 and by its rod also upon the bell-crank lever 28, so that the plunger 29 is withdrawn to admit compressed air or gas into the space and to force out therefrom water. Thereby the apparatus is made lighter, so that it is checked in its downward motion and obliged to rise.

It was stated above that the diving apparatus serves chiefly for examining, observing, or exploring purposes, for which reason it is made smooth on the outside. However, the diving apparatus may also serve the usual purposes of ordinary diving apparatuses, in which case it maybe provided on the outside with devices of any known and approved construction for seizing, handling, and carrying upward bodies of every description. The said devices will require to be actuated from the interior of the ball-like casing mechanically or electrically in any suitable manner.

The stop-valves 5 and 9 and the reducingvalve 8 are shown as arranged to be actuated by hand. However, if the diving apparatus is to be subjected to considerable pressures at great depths it will be necessary to actuate these valves mechanically or electrically for overcoming increased frictions of their spindles and stuffing-boxes and also to construct these valves specially for rendering them tight, reliable, and safe.

Should the single easing of the apparatus be too weak for the water-pressure at a certain depth, it will be necessary to construct two or several ball-like casings inclosing each other and leaving between them spaces in which a certain pressure equal to a fraction of the total water-pressure can be preserved,

so that the thickness of the several casings can be made moderate.

The diving apparatus is preferably connected with the upper world by a telephoneline, which in this case should be led over a buoy. The latter is provided with a wirespool, from which the wire leading to the apparatus is unwound or on which it is wound, respectively. under uniform tension in proportion to the descent and ascent of the diving apparatus. The buoy in turn should be connected by a wire with the ship or other place, so that the men within the diving apparatus remain in constant communication with the men on board the ship or on the place.

The carriage 11 renders it possible for the men on it to get at everything within the easing, as it is only necessary to revolve the latter until the respective portion of the same comes within reach of the men. The crab 12 or the carriage 11 may be arranged to be driven mechanically or electrically in any known and approved manner.

The diving apparatus may be varied in many respects without deviating from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a diving apparatus of the class described, the combination with a ball-like casing, of a vessel within said ball-like casing for compressed air or gas, a chamber within said ball-like casing and communicating with the surrounding water, means for arbitrarily admitting air or gas from said vessel to said cham ber, and means for discharging air or gas from said chamber to without.

2. In a diving apparatus of the class described, the combination with a ball-like casing, of a vessel within said ball-like casing for compressed air or gas, a chamber within said ball'like casing and communicating with the surrounding water, means for arbitrarily admitting air or gas from said vessel to said chamber, means for discharging air or gas from said chamber to without, a plurality of propelling-blades on the outside of said balllike casing, and means for shifting the line of direction of gravity, whereby the diving apparatus is rotated and propelled.

3. In a diving apparatus of the class described, the combination with a ball-like casing, of a vessel within said ball-like casing for compressed air or gas, a chamber within said ball-like casing and communicating with the surrounding water, means for arbitrarily admitting air or gas from said vessel to said chamber, means for discharging air or gas from said chamber to without, means for giving said ball-like casing a tangential shock to turn it through a certain angle, a plurality of propelling-blades on the outside of said ball-like casing, and means for shifting the line of direction of gravity, whereby the diving apparatus is rotated and propelled.

4. In a diving apparatus of the class described,.tl1e combination with a ball-like casing, of a tubular vessel for compressed air or gas Within said ball-like casing in its one horizontal axis, a tubular chamber concentrically inclosing said tubular vessel, means for putting said tubular chamber into and out of communication with the surrounding water, means for arbitrarily admitting air or gas from said tubular vessel to said tubular chamber, means for discharging air or gas from said chamber to without, a plurality of propelling-blades on the outside of said ball-like casing, two parallel circular rails on the inside of said balllike casing at right angles to the axis of said tubular vessel, a carriage on said two parallel rails, and means for moving said carriage in either direction and thereby shifting the line of direction of gravity, so that the diving apparatus is rotated and propelled.

5. In a diving apparatus of the class described, the combination with a ball-like casing, of a circularly-bent rail within said balllike casing, a weight mounted to move on said circularly-bent rail, springs secured on said circularly-bent rail and adapted to catch said weight, said weight being adapted tovbe thrown against either of said plurality of springs, whereby a tangential shock is given to said ball-like casing to turn it through a certain angle.

6. In a diving apparatus of the class described, the combination with a ball-like casing, of a tubular vessel for compressed air or gas within said ball-like casing in its one hori-' zontal axis, a tubular chamber concentrically inclosing said tubular vessel, means for putting said tubular chamber into and out of communication with the surrounding water, a reducing-valve for admitting air or gas from said tubular vessel to said tubular chamber,

rality of vpropelling-blades into said vertical central plane and to permit them to incline on said ball-like casing being rotated, two parallel circular rails on the inside of said ball-like casing at right angles to the axis of said tubular vessel, a carriage on said two parallel rails, and means for moving said carriage in either direction and thereby shifting the line of direction of gravity, so that the diving apparatus is rotated and propelled.

7. In a diving apparatus of the class described, the combination with a ball-like casing, of a vessel within said ball-like casing for compressed air or gas, a chamber within said ball-like casing and communicating with the surrounding water, a reducing-valve for admitting air or gas from said vessel to said chamber, a cylinder on the inside of said balllike casing and open to without, a plate in said ball-like casing for closing said cylinder and adjusted to burst under a certain external pressure, a piston mounted in said cylinder to reciprocate, and means connected with said piston for controlling said reducing-valve, so that on said plate bursting the water-pressure actuates said reducing-valve.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH VON MINISZEWVSKI.

Witnesses:

HENRY HASPER, VVOLDEMAR HAUPT. 

